International Relations

Turkestan is a member of several international organizations, and due to its size often takes a fairly prominent regional role. The State also maintains diplomatic relations with the nations that surround it.

Neighbouring Countries:

Russian Federation

Directly to the north of Turkestan is the Russian Federation. In the world of Ill Bethisad, the Federation is a much looser-knit community of semi-independent states with a weak central government. The community of Russian Republics is actually less a "Federation" as we normally think of the term, but more of a league or commonwealth. Jan van Steenbergen has been the main developer of the current shape of the RF in Ill Bethisad.

Particular note should be made of several of the individual Republics. The Russian Republic of Qazaqstan (not to be confused with the Turkestani Province of the same name) is the republic that immediately borders Turkestan. The two Qazaqstans (sometimes referred to as "North" and "South" Qazaqstan) owe their separate existences to the peace settlement that ended the Basmaçı Revolt and recognized Turkestan as a sovereign state. Desire for reunification is high among Qazaqs on both sides of the border, but North Qazaqstan's large Russian population are altogether more sceptical of the idea.

The Russian Republic of Chelyabinsk is slightly further away, but is possibly unique in openly retaining a Snorist (what?) government. It is a major arms producer for the Russian Federation, and among other things is home to the Yankov aviation design bureau.

Uyguristan

Bordering Turkestan to the east is the Republic of Uyguristan. Uyguristan is probably the culturally closest state to Turkestan (with the possible exception of the Russian Republic of Qazaqstan), but relations between the two countries are considerably tense. Chief among the reasons for this is the Qaşgar War of 1991-1997 and the Turkestani annexation of Qaşgar, which is still a hot issue among Uygurs and adds a layer of tension to diplomatic relations. In addition, Turkestan's more powerful economy and upsurge in pan-Turkic political ideology makes Uygurs nervous, while conversely, the not quite neo-Snorist government of Uyguristan raises Turkestani suspicions.

Mongolia

Not actually bordering Turkestan but still in the Central Asian region is the State of Mongolia. Outer Mongolia received its independence as a Russian-aligned Snorist state in 1921, and was reunited with Inner Mongolia following the breakup of China after the Great Oriental War. It is something of a terra incognita in Ill Bethisad. Relations with Turkestan appear to be good.

Beihanguo

East of Uyguristan and south of Mongolia lies Beihanguo, the closest of the Chinese successor states of the defunct Empire of China. Beihanguo is probably the largest of the Chinas, and is the Chinese state that maintains closest diplomatic ties with Turkestan. Indeed, Beihanguo's relations with Turkestan are vastly better than its relations with the Turkic state that lies between them, Uyguristan. However, given Uyguristan's history as one of the Chinese Empire's former territories, this is not really surprising.

Tibet (current regime)

Bordering Turkestan to the southeast is the powerful Kingdom of Tibet. Tibet in Ill Bethisad is a large, aggressive, militant Buddhist nation that is ruled by a cadre of senior military officers in the name of one of the two claimants of the 14th Dalai Lama. Tibetan-Turkestani diplomatic relations are not exactly tense, but are a long way from being more than stiffly formal, and there are several reasons for this. The most evident of these is that Tibet's militant Buddhism and aggressive foreign policy makes Turkestanis nervous. The second reason is that Turkestan plays host to a fairly substantial expatriate Tibetan community, most of which are followers of the Dalai Lama-in-exile and who view Tibet's current military regime as an illegitimate government. This can colour Turkestani public opinion towards its neighbour.

Moghul National Realm

Following around clockwise, the rest of Turkestan's southeastern border is with the Moghul National Realm (generally abbreviated as the MNR). The proud successor of the Moghul empire of Babur, the MNR was until fairly recently a virtually closed state, and comparatively poor. It has begun to open up to the rest of the world, however, and Turkestani companies have often been at the forefront of developing the MNR's industrial and economic base. Turkestan, along with Persia, is one of the Moghul National Realm's two diplomatically closest relations.

Persia

To the south of Turkestan is Persia. Persia is probably the most powerful of Turkestan's neighbours, with a strong military, an influential native religious community (Zoroastrianism) and a vibrant economy. Despite a robust economic rivalry between the two states, Persia and Turkestan are actually fairly close and have a history of cooperation, especially since the fall of the Snorist Government of National Unity in Turkestan and the resultant realigning of Turkestan's foreign policy. This cooperation is most visible in their mutual membership of several international organisations. Deiniol Jones is largely responsible for its development.

Azerbaijan

The Mazandaran Sea, as the Caspian Sea is known locally, separates Turkestan from its Turkic neighbour Azerbaijan. In addition to being a fellow ex-Snorist state, Azerbaijan is also a member of the Silk Road League alongside Turkestan.Little more is currently known of this state.